Acetylene-torch



C. JOHNSON.

ACE-TYLENE TORCH. APPLICATION FILED Aura-4. 191s.

Patented J an., 20, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. JOHNSON.

ACETYLENE TORCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1916,.

hfw 2:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ACETYLENE-TORQH.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, CARL JOHNSON, a c1t 1-zen of the United States, residing at Chlc-ago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Acetylene-Torches, of which the following is a specification.-

This invention relates to an acetylene torch and its purpose is toprovide an improved device of this kindwhich may be used for cuttingmetal, or for other like uses. The principalobject of the invention 1sto provide an acetylene torch which, may

be adjusted for use in welding or for cutting metal without thenecessity of interchanging any parts of the apparatus. Another importantobject is to provide an acetylene torch comprising means for renderingitself inoperative when the acetylene or other ga's back fires orflashes back within the apparatus. This last described feature overcomesa' very troublesome defect in a great many prior devices of this kind,since it is assembled and disassembled and easily operated when in use.

Another feature relates to an improved arrangement of the gas and oxygensupply tubes and to improved means for providing an auxiliary oxygensupply when the device is to be used for cutting metal. A further objectis to provide an improved arrangement and construction of the burnerhead and tip.

These and other objects of the invention will appear more clearly fromthe following specification, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings I Figure 1 shows a side elevation of my improvedacetylene torch; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of theSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 20, 1920.

Application filed. August 4, 1916. Serial No. 113,166.

lower portion thereof, showing a vertical section through the burnerhead and tip and other parts of the device;

Fig. .3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is, a sectional view taken on the line 4.-4: of Fig. 2, lookingin the direction of thearrows;

D Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on they lme 55 of Fig. 2, looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section through the upper part of thetorch, showmg the means for controlling the supply of oxygen gas andacetylene gas;

Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line'77 of Fig. 6,looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6, looking inthe direction of the arrows.

I contemplate using my device in connection with separate supplies ofacetylene gas and oxygen gas, as is customary, but I have not consideredit necessary to show the tanks, etc. containing these gases, since theyform no part of the present invention. These gases are supplied to'theconnection ,head 10 ofthe apparatus through suitable pipes, a pipeleading from the oxygen supply being connected to the valve 11, and apipe leading from the acetylene gas supply being connected to the valve12. These valves are provided with threaded stems 11 and 12respectively, which are adapted to form threaded engagements with theinner walls of the'chambers 13 and 14 formed in the head 10, the chamber13 being adapted to receive the oxygen gas and the chamber 14 beingadapted to receive the acetylene gas' The valves 11 and 12 are inclinedwith respect to the head 10 so that the pipes or hose to which they areconnected may have a free and convenient inclination at the points ofattachment. It will be obvious that by means of the yalves 11 and 12 thegases may be controlled as supply of these desired.

The lower end of the connection head 10 is provided with a cylindricalprojection 15, which is adapted to fit closely the elongated cylinder orcasing 16. This casing is secured in position on the head by means ofscrews 17, or the like, and it'servesas a convenient handle or operatingmember which may be held in the hands of the operator when the torch isbeing used. The lower end wall 16 of the casing 16 is provided with asuitable aperture which is closely fitted bythe acetylene gas tube orpipe 18. An oxygen tube orpipe 19, of relatively smallsize, is locatedwithin the acetylene pipe 18, an annular space being left around theoxygen pipe through which the acetylene gas passes. The acetylene pipe18 forms a threaded engagement at 20 with the lower end of the head 10,and the oxygen pipe 19 is similarly secured to the lower end of the head10 within the pipe 18. A duct 21 leads through the head 10 from thechamber 14 to the interior of the pipe 18, thereby furnishing means forsupplying the acetylene gas to the pipe 18 from the chamber 14 whichreceives the gas from the source of supply. A duct 22 extendstransversely through the wall of the chamber 13 and communicates withthe upper part of a cylindrical chamber 23 which is formed in the head10 above and communicating with the oxygen pipe 19 by means of a duct 24A cylindrical valve plug or, plunger 25 is mounted in the chamber 23 andis provided with a relatively large, vertically extending bore or recess26 which communicates at its lower end with a small duct 27, by means ofwhich a communication is formed between the bore 26 and the duct 24which leads to the pipe 19. The lower wall of the cylindrical chamber23, in which the plug 25 is mounted, is counterbored around the duct 24in order to expose a relatively large part of the lower end of the plugto the pressure of the gas in the pipe 19. The enlarged upper end 23 ofthe chamber 23 is closed by a threaded nut or valve cap 28, which isprovided with a central vertically extending aperture threadedly engagedby the needle valve stem 29 having a suitably knurled handle 30. Awasher 28- seats upon the shoulder at the lower end of the enlarged part23 of the chamber and suitable packing 28 is placed in the space aroundthe valve stem between the Washer and the nut 28. It will be seen thatwhen the valve plug 25 is in normal position, as shown in Fig. 6, forinstance, the duct 22 forms a communication between the -chamber 13 andthe upper part of the chamber 23 above the plug 25. The oxygen gasreceived in the chamber 23 through the duct 22 may then pass downwardlythrough the bore 26, duct 27, and duct 24 to the oxygen pipe 19. It willbe seen that the conical ex tremity 29 of the valve stem 29 is adaptedto extend partially into the bore 26, and by regulating'the position ofthe needle the amount of gas admitted to the bore 26 and tube 19 may beregulated as deslred. It

will be apparent that the pressure of the gas will operate normally tohold the plug 25 in its normal position, since the exposed upper surfaceof the plug is slightly greater than the exposed lower surface thereof,and furthermore in ordinary operation the force of gravity serves tomaintain the plug in its normal position; but if the acetylene torchback fires or flashes back as hereinafter more fully described, the backpressure in the pipe 19 will serve to cut off the oxygen supply bypushing the plug 25 upward-1y and causing the upper end of the bore 26to engage closely the conical portion 29 of: the needle valve. When theneedle valve is in an extreme open position the plug 25 may moveupwardly to a sufficient extent to close the duct 22. In addition to theoxygen pipe 19, there is provided a supplementary oxygen supply tube 31,which is secured at its upper end to the lower end of the head 10 andwhich communicates with the chamber 13 through a duct 32. This tube 31passes downwardly through the casing 16 and through a suitable aperturein the lower end wall 1b thereof.

The lower portion of the acetylene pipe 18 is provided with an angularlydisposed extension 18, and the oxygen pipe 19 is similarly provided withan angularly disposed extension 19 which closely fits a suitableaperture in the end. wall 35 of the pipe 18. The threaded extremity ofthe portion 18 of the pipe 18 engages a suitably threaded recess in theburner head 36, and the opposite end of the burner head is provided withanother threaded recess which is engaged by the threaded portion 37 ofthe burner tip 37. A suitable lock nut 38 engages the threaded portionof the burner tip 37 and holds the same in fixed position with respectto the burner head 36, suitable packing 39 being placed between the nut38and the lower end of the burner head.

The end wall 35 of the pipe 18 is provided with an annular groove 40,and the opposed central wall 44 ofthe burner head is provided with asimilar annular groove 40, these grooves forming together an annularchannel 41. Theend wall 35 is further provided with a plurality of smallducts 42, which provide a communication between the interior of the pipe18 and the annular channel 41; Other ducts 43, extending through thecentral wall 44 of the burner head, provide a communication between theannular channel 41 and another annular channel 45 which is formed by.suitably registering annular grooves formed in the opposite face of thewall 44 and in the adjacent end wall of the burner or tip 37. Two ormore ducts or passages 48 extend through the burner from the annularchannel 45 to the opposite end or tip of the burner where the combustiontakes place, and a single passage 49, of

larger size, extends through the central part of the burner between thepassages 48 and closed by a plug 51 which has a fixedengagement-therewith, the upper'end of this plug and thewall 44 of theburner head be-v ing counterbored to form a chamber 52 to receive theoxygen gas which passes thereto from the oxygen pipe 19 through a smallduct 53 formed in the wall 44 of the burner head. A plurality of smallangularly disposed ducts 54 extend from the recess 52 through the plug51 and the walls of the passage 49 to the passages or ducts 48, whichserve as mixing chambers for th oxygen gas and acetylene gas which areadmitted thereto. It will be seen that the oxygen gas andacetylene gaswhich are mixed in the ducts 48 pass therefrom to the mouth of theburner and are thoroughly mixed during such passage, so that a perfectcombustion thereof takes place at the mouth of the burner.

The construction of the burner head just described furnishes means forhighly heating the metal being operated upon, and when it is desired tocut the metal by a strongoxidizing flame, an auxiliary oxygen supply isused, and this supply is received through the supplementary oxygen pipe31 previously referred to. This pipe 31 leads to a coupling 60, throughwhich a communication is formed between the pipe and the duct 61extending through the angularly disposed projection 62 which is formedon the burner head 36. The duct 61 communi cates with an annular channel63 formed iiithe wall of the burner 37 within the burner head, and theauxiliary supply of oxygen passes from this annular channel throughsuitable tubes or ducts 64 which extend through the wall of the burner.between the passages 48 to the inner, centrally located passage 49. Theauxiliary blast of oxygen then passes outwardly means of a valve 65,which is located in the pipe 31 adjacent the lower end of the casing 16,this valve being secured to the pipe 18 by means of a suitable splitcollar 66. The

valve 65 is preferably of the plug valve type,

having a stem 67 which is connected to an operating lever 68. The lever68 is pivotally connected to a link 69, which in turn is pivotallyconnected at 70 to the casing of the valve.

When using the apparatus the valves 11 and 12 are opened to the desiredextent, thereby admitting the oxygen and acetylene gases to the chambers13 and 14, respectively. vThe acetylene gas then passes through the duct21 to the pipe 18,-'andthe oxygen gas passes through the duct 22,

' chamber '23, bore 26, duct 27 and duct 24 any gas leaks back throughthe needle valve thence through the ducts 43 and the annular channel tothe'mixingichambers or passages 48 in the burner.

to the oxygen pipe 19. F rom the pi e 18 the acetylene gas passesthrough t e ducts .42 to the annular channel 41, and

The 'oxygen gas passes from the pipe 19 through the duct 53, recess 52,and ducts 54 to the mixing chambers 48, where the two gases mingle andpass together to the mouth of the burner, where they are consumed. '1When it is desired to use the apparatus for cutting metal, the valve maybe operated to admit the auxiliary oxygen supply to the passage 49,therebv producing an oxidizing flame suitable for metal cuttingpurposes. During the operation ofthe device, the valves 11 and 12 andthe valve stem 29 may be adjusted to-regulate the amounts of oxygen gasand acetylene gas to pass to the mixing chambers 48, in order to securethe proper mixture of the ases for the purpose desired. During theoperation of the apparatus. the combustion or'explos'ion of the gas atany point within the apparatus, which may occur by reason of a back fireor flash back from the mouth of the burner, will operate to set up abackpressure in the oxygen pipe 19, which will move the plug 25 upwardlvagainstlthe pressure of the oxygen supply and thus cut off the supply ofoxygen and render the device inoperative. .If

after the latter has been automatically closed, it will be carrieddownwardly through the auxiliary oxygen pipe when'the latter is in use.When the oxygen supply is-cut off the flash back ceases at. onceand theopernear the heated'gjnetal operated upon whence the gas mixturefwillagain be lighted without delay. The objectionable-back fire orflashback, whether caused by clogging of 5 the tip cause axflash back, suchobstructions may be readily removed and the burner then relighted' Itwill be apparent that this advantage is an important feature, since itprevents the possibility of accident or'inury to the apparatus or theoperator 125 thereof, and overcomes serious and troublesome delays whichusually occur in the use. of apparatus ofthis kind.

It will also be apparent that the apparatus ator may then hold the tipof the burner comprises asmall number of parts and is 130.

assembled in a convenientv manner, so that it may be, readilymanipulated by the operator, who may manipulate and adjust the Yoperation of the burner by grasping the casing 16 which provides aconvenient means forsupporting the apparatus.

Although I have shown and described a particular embodiment of theinvention, it will be understood that it may be con structed in variousforms without departing from the scope thereof so defined in theappending claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a burner, means for supplyingoxygen gas to said burner, means for supplying acetylene gas to" saidburner, and a valve comprising ing said needle member for automaticalcutting off the supply of one of said gases when said plug is actuatedby a back-pressure.

2. In a device of the class described, a head, an oxygen pipe and anacetylene pipe connected to said head, one of said pipes being locatedwithin the other, said head having chambers therein and ducts leadingfrom each of said chambers to one of said pipes, a .normally open,gravity-actuated valve in one of said ducts, and a burner operativelyconnected to the other. ends of said pipes- I -3. In a device of theclass described, a head, an oxygen pipe and an acetylene pipe connectedto said head, said head having chambers therein and normally open ductsleading from each of said chambers to one of said pipes, a burneroperatively connected to the other ends of said pipes, means forcontrolling the How of gas through each of said pipes to said burner,and a normally open valve in one of said ducts, closed entirely by theback pressure in one of said pipes for preventing a back fire in saidhead.

4. In a device of the class described, a head, an oxygen pipe and anacetylene pipe connected to said head, said head having chambers thereinand normally open ducts leading from each of said chambers to one ofsaid pipes, a burner operatively connected to the other ends of saidpipes, means for controlling the flow of gas through each of said pipesto said burner, a movable valve member mounted in one of said ducts andhaving an aperture therethrough forming a continuation of said duct, anda member adapted to engage and close said aperture 1n a needle memberand a movable plug engag-' said valve member upon movement thereof dueto a back pressure in the connected pipe.

5.'In adevice 'of the class described, a head having two chambers'formedtherein, means for controlling the admission of oxygen to one ofsaidchambers, means for controlling the admission of acetylene gas tothe other of said chambers, an acetylene pipe and an oxygen pipe leadingfrom said head, said head having a duct thereinforming a communicationbetween said acetylene chamber and said acetylene pipe, said head beingprovided with a passage leading from said oxygen chamber to said oxygenpipe, and a needle valve for controlling the flow of oxygen through saidpassage, said needle valve having a movable seat operated by backpressure in said device.

6. In a device of the class described, a connection head having twochambers formed therein, means for controlling the admission oi oxygento one of said chambers,

means for controlling the admission of acetylene gasatdthe other of saidchambers, an acetylene pipe and-an oxygen pipe leading from said head,said head having a duct therein forming a communication between saidacetylene chamber and said acetylene pipe, said head being furtherprovided with a passage leading from said oxygen chamber to said oxygenpipe, a needle member adjustably mounted in said head and entering saidpassageya plug adapted to be actuated by a back-pressure to engage saidneedle member and close said passage, and a burner head connected tosaid oxygen pipe and said acetylene pipe. I

7. In a device of the class described, acon- .nection head havingseparate chambers in oppositesides thereof, inlet pipes leading to saidchambers at an angle to the walls of said head, outlet pipes mounted onewithin the other and attached to said head at an angle to said inletpipes, a duct leading my name.

' CARL JOHNSON.

